The best PC cases for your next gaming rig

A range of great PC cases in all prices and sizes: mini-ITX, micro-ATX, mid tower and full tower.

Most first time builders don’t realize this, but picking the right computer case is a monumental decision. The best PC case for your build determines what components will actually fit inside, how easy your system will be to build, how air will flow across your components, and how your computer will fit into your gaming setup. PC chassis come in a variety of sizes, from miniscule mini-ITX systems meant to sit on your desk, to massive full towers designed for maximum expandability.

With this in mind, we’ve picked out 20 of the best PC cases (in no particular order) to start with for your next system build, spanning a spectrum of sizes, shapes, and price points. If you're looking for a great gaming case, it's here. If you want something sleek and minimalist, it's here, too.

One of our latest favorites is NZXT’s H700i released last year. The ease of building in it and the satisfaction it provides are second to none. NZXT markets the H700i as a "smart" case thanks to the inclusion of a new smart hub powered by the company’s CAM software.

This hub acts as both a digital fan controller and a RGB LED controller that uses machine learning to find the perfect balance between noise and cooling for your fan speeds in real-time. The H700i generously includes four pre-installed fans and two RGB strips to make full use of the smart hub out of the box.

These features already set the H700i apart from the crowd, but the cable management on the backside is the star of the show. Four different cable routing channels with integrated cable tie downs made the process effortless and extremely satisfying. Priced at $200, the H700i is one of the more expensive cases we’ve recommended but it’s about as premium as it gets.

Corsair's Obsidian 500D took everything we loved about the 900D added a ton of modern updates and brought it to a smaller more accessible mid tower. Like its predecessors, the 500D offers an elegant blend of smoked tempered glass and brushed aluminum for a truly premium look and feel.

As expected from a modern Corsair case, the 500D and the newer 500D SE offers plentiful support for liquid cooling and convenient cable management options. The latter replaces the aluminum front panel with more smoked tempered glass and features a built in version of Corsair's RGB LED/fan controller along with three pre-installed addressable RGB LED fans. The end result is an iconic enclosure that is as beautiful as it is functional.

It may not be a brand you're familiar with, but Riotoro has made a few great budget friendly cases that don’t skimp out on features. The CR1080 was a compact case that stayed as one of our recommended cases for years. Now, the CR500 is taking its place.

The case features a huge tempered glass window that lets you show off all of our components inside but also has a PSU shroud and ample cable management space to keep things nice and tidy. With sale prices as low as $60, the CR500 is a steal that offers more than enough support for all ATX builds and features high quality materials that rival top case manufacturers.

Cooler Master's H500M is the company's latest flagship mid tower, but we'd really rather it be called a full-sized tower. Measuring 21.4 x 9.8 x 21.5 inches, the H500M is the biggest mid tower on this list. Thanks to its large size and internal layout, it's really easy to build in and supports a huge variety of components and custom cooling options.

The H500M comes with two massive 200mm RGB LED fans installed which do a fantastic job of increasing airflow out of the box. Other modern touches include a USB 3.1 Type-C connector and tons of modularity including the option to choose between mesh and tempered glass.

Our only major issue with the case is the lack of easily removable magnetic dust filters for the front fan intake. Luckily, all of the mesh in the entire H500 line features a secondary filter layer that'll help keep dust out of your build.

NZXT’s Manta may be called a mini-ITX case, but it is anything but mini. The overall dimensions are even larger than some m-ATX cases out there, but this isn’t a bad thing. It is by far the roomiest mini-ITX case we’ve built in, and that’s thanks in part to the case’s unique curved steel panels.

In addition to doubling the cable management space of competing mini-ITX cases, Manta provides enough space and support for a full custom liquid cooling loop with double radiators. If you’re looking to pack some serious power into a mini-ITX build, NZXT’s Manta is a great option.

Speaking of roomy builds, the Corsair Obsidian Series 1000D is a behemoth of a PC case ready to house the biggest and baddest systems. Standing tall at a staggering 27.3", this "super tower" features enough space to house 18 fans and up to four massive radiators installed simultaneously.

In addition to the insane cooling support, the 1000D features a unique triple-chamber design with convenient french-door-styled storage compartments and telescoping radiator trays for easy installation. Because it is 2018 of course there is also an RGB lit front panel I/O with built-in smart lighting and fan control courtesy of Corsair's built-in Commander Pro controller. The Obsidian 900D has long been a top choice for massive, over-the-top builds and it's only fitting that the 1000D was designed to knock it off its throne.

Fractal’s Define series has become a bit of a cult classic in the PC gaming space. Since the popular Define R4, Fractal has continuously made smart improvements and revisions while listening to fans and reviewers alike.

The latest in the Define series is the R6 which is a larger mid tower that even supports some eATX motherboards and somehow fits a massive 420mm radiator inside. The tempered glass version features a massive window that showcases a clean interior with a unique vertical GPU mount design.

The Define R6 may be on the pricey side for some, but Fractal has proven time and time again that the Define series is a reliable pick.

Cooler Master is one of the oldest case manufacturers around and its high airflow HAF series has stood the test of time for over a decade. While the MasterCase Pro represents a "newer" builder-oriented Cooler Master, the MasterCase H500P brought back some of the things we loved about the HAF series.

The new H500 is the entry-level model that features two massive 200mm RGB fans in the front with support for one more mounted up top. Out of the box it’s pretty clear the H500 is designed for some serious airflow. Adding to the MasterCase theme of modularity, the H500 can be taken apart completely, allowing for easy painting or swapping parts like the front tempered glass panel for a mesh one. Like the MasterCase Pro, the H500 and its more premium counterparts offer exceptional support and modularity without a premium price tag.

With RGB becoming the latest craze in PC hardware, tempered glass cases have come out in full force. Thermaltake’s View 71 is a prime example with four tempered glass panels wrapping the whole case and three pre-installed RGB LED fans.

Unlike some of the tempered glass cases we’ve used, the View 71 comes with swinging doors so you don’t have to remove the entire panel every time you want to make a change. The case also includes a vertical GPU mount and extensive liquid cooling support for all-in-one and custom loops. If you want a big case with e-ATX support to showcase your components inside, the View 71 is the way to go.

NZXT’s S340 has long gone unchallenged as our favorite budget mid tower thanks to its minimalistic design, steel side panels and most importantly accessibility. The H500 is its direct replacement and it checks off all of the boxes of its predecessor with a few modern updates that allow it to keep its place on the throne.

Like the S340, the H500's sleek design includes a steel cable management bar and PSU shroud to keep things looking just as clean on the inside as it does on the outside. If you want to add a pop of color to your build, NZXT offers the H500 with a few different colors to match your components. Priced at $70, the case is absolutely comparable in build quality and features to $100+ competitors.

Cooler Master’s flagship Cosmos II was a huge success among the hardcore PC modding crowd in 2012 thanks to its race-car inspired design and brushed aluminum. Now, the company has finally released its true successor the Cosmos C700P.

The C700P blends curved tempered glass and brushed aluminum with a hint of RGB lighting to create one of the best looking cases we’ve seen yet. Don’t worry, the case is just as functional as it is beautiful with E-ATX support, 420mm radiator compatibility and a fully modular interior. Priced at $300, the race-car inspired case comes with an equally inspired price point.

One of Corsair’s newest cases, the Carbide 275R might just be the ultimate minimalist’s case. Aside from a small "sail" logo on the front panel, the 275R ditches additional branding for the sake of a clean design that anyone can respect. While the design may be minimal, the functionality is anything but.

Unlike NZXT’s minimal S340, the Carbide 275R can support a 360mm radiator in the front and up to a whopping six 120mm fans. With a modest $80 price tag, the 275R is a great case for beginners as well as advanced users looking to create a sleek custom loop.

When it comes to innovative case design, In Win frequently pushes the boundaries and creates some remarkable cases. The latest A1 mini-ITX tower is one of those cases with its sleek compact design and innovative feature set.

The A1 features a preinstalled and pre-cable managed 600W power supply that eliminates one of our least favorite things about building in tiny ITX cases. It provides just enough power for most ITX builds with discrete graphics cards. One of the nice modern touches is the integrated wireless qi charger at the top of the case that allows you to effortlessly charge your phone.

Unlike some of the other ITX cases in this list, the A1 isn't capable of supporting big powerful builds with large radiators and lots of storage. It's designed for a more compact build that is meant to sit comfortably in the living room or on your desktop.

NZXT’s H400i is essentially a miniaturized version of our favorite mid tower, the H700i. Built to support m-ATX and mini-ITX builds, the H400i is all about packing a high end system into a compact, minimalistic package.

Like its bigger brother, the case comes equipped with NZXT’s smart hub and also includes three fans and two RGB LED strips. With plentiful support for liquid cooling and full sized components, The H400i is the perfect compromise between smaller ITX builds and larger mid-sized towers.

When it comes to sleek aluminum cases, Lian Li has always stood out from the crowd. The company’s latest PC-O11 Dynamic case is no exception. Lian Li created the perfect blend of tempered glass and brushed aluminum to make a piece of modern art here.

The best thing about the PC-O11 case is that it is extremely versatile, something we found older cases from the company to be lacking. With its dual chamber design, the PC-O11 is larger than most mid towers and in return is capable of supporting a whole lot more, including most E-ATX boards. Built-in USB 3.1 Type-C, interior modularity and exceptional cable management make the PC-O11 Dynamic one of our favorite cases to date.

InWin was one of the first case manufacturers to experiment with tempered glass panels and now it looks like everyone is using them. It’s only fitting since our interior components have become more and more aesthetically pleasing. The company’s 303 was one of our favorite cases for some time thanks to its massive tempered glass door, dual-chamber design and affordability.

Now the company has updated the case with the 303C which brings a USB 3.1 Type-C connector to the front I/O and adds RGB lighting. It also includes a nifty metal GPU bracket which prevents the dreaded sagging you get with heavy graphics cards.

Corsair's Crystal Series 280X is a beautiful m-atx case that supports very powerful, compact builds. The cube-like tower features a dual chamber design that makes very efficient use of space for easy cable management and installation. The 280X RGB comes with two preinstalled addressable RGB fans and a Lighting Node PRO controller.

Like the other Crystal Series cases, the 280X features three smoked tempered glass panels that allow you to easily show off your RGB interior. The case offers a wide assortment of cooling options with support for radiators up to 280mm in length.

While it is technically a micro-ATX tower, we would highly recommend the 280X RGB for both mATX and micro-ITX builds. The spacious interior and versatile dual chamber design makes it one of the easiest compact cases we've ever built in. Not to mention it looks amazing on your desktop.

Originally known for their silent power supplies and fans, be quiet! entered the case market with a big splash and has done quite well in the short period of time since their first case launch in 2014. One of their newer cases, the Dark Base Pro 900 remains one of our highly recommended full towers thanks to its sleek design and enthusiast-friendly interior.

The Dark Base Pro 900 is large enough to support the biggest motherboards and radiators up to 420mm in size. The case also features total modularity with options for an inverted motherboard layout and even some nifty features like wireless qi charging and preinstalled LED lighting.

If you’re looking to build a simple compact gaming system or HTPC, Cooler Master’s Elite 110 is as accessible as it gets. It may not have all of the bells and whistles compared to the other ITX options mentioned in this guide, but it certainly gets the job done.

A smart interior layout with a vertical GPU mount allows you to fit quite a bit in this little package. The Elite 110 supports a large range of graphics cards up to 8.3" long and even leaves enough room for 120mm all-in-one liquid coolers. Unlike other small form factor cases, this one actually supports most regular ATX-sized PSUs. At a mere $40, it’s really easy for us to recommend the Elite 110 for builders on a budget.

If RGB is your thing, you most likely have a full set of glowing peripherals by now. The next logical step would be to bring the party to your chassis and internal components. Corsair’s latest tempered glass heavy Crystal series is a great place to start.

Corsair’s flagship Crystal 570X includes three RGB led fans and an integrated LED controller to help get the party started. If your set of RGB peripherals happens to be from Corsair, the company’s CUE software instantly syncs up the lighting. The 570X is wrapped entirely with tempered glass panels which make it easy to show off your RGB lighting. Lighting controls are also conveniently located on the top I/O.

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